First ice, now flooding hits Kentucky

Nearly 200,000 are without power from storm and flood warnings are posted.

BY STEPHANIE BACKUS | BALTIMORE |
January 28, 2009

The ice and snow storm that hit the Midwest and Mid-south this week has left hundreds of thousands without power in Kentucky. The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management said 473,000 were without power Wednesday morning. Power outages forced Jefferson County Public Schools to cancel classes for the rest of the week.

Overnight, the freezing rain turned to snow, and then rain, causing severe flooding across the state. Flood warnings and flash flood warnings are in place for the southwest corner of Kentucky.

Gage readings along the Little River and Green River show waters rapidly rising. Kentucky law enforcement agencies are reporting the Little River and its attributes are already out of its banks in Trigg and Christian Counties. Authorities are urging people in flood zones to move to higher ground, as they believe the flooding could become dangerous.